To ask or not to ask for an upgrade? Advice please

[PrincessesX3]

Should I ask? Or don't ask and see. We are booked in a standard view at WL, which I am completely fine with but a free upgrade would be nice. Any advice? Or experiences?

 

[Sue M]

I would never ask for a free upgrade. I book the room I can live with, and any pixie dust: is just icing on the cake. I have gotten free upgrades at WL, and it was very exciting. But never asked for one. We usually book woods view.

 

[Missytara]

Should I ask? Or don't ask and see. We are booked in a standard view at WL, which I am completely fine with but a free upgrade would be nice. Any advice? Or experiences?

The general consensus is that if you ask for an upgrade, you will be quoted the price to do so.

If you receive one, you should be grateful, because it was usually something beyond your control, like - a maintenance issue, overbooking at another resort, someone who could not check out due to weather in their home state, etc.

Disney has gotten very smart and created categories that people used to request.

Pay for the room you wish to have or the room you can afford and be happy you are at one of the most wonderful places on earth.

Do not set yourself up for a disappointment by booking the standard category and expecting to be upgraded.

 

[jen42002]

I was upgraded once at AKL by asking how much it would cost to upgrade to a savannah view room. It was a very slow time of the year and they must have had a low occupancy.

If you ask for an upgrade without being willing to pay for it, the chances are slim that you will get one. As the pp said, book what type of room you would like to be in and can afford. Anything else would just be a bit more pixie dust.

 

[raven69david]

Should I ask? Or don't ask and see. We are booked in a standard view at WL, which I am completely fine with but a free upgrade would be nice. Any advice? Or experiences?

Ask at check-in. If you don't get it, then you didn't lose anything. You'll never know if you never ask. If you are going during Value season, the odds are in your favor that you may get a free upgrade, but it's not a guarantee. Having said that, we always book a standard room at AKL and have gotten a savanna view room upgrade 100% of the time. All of our stays have been during Value season. I've always booked a standard room, but I've never stayed in one. Of course, that's just at this resort. We've stayed at WL and got a free upgrade to CL which was fantastic.Upon check-in, it appears that we and another couple checking in at the same time got the free upgrade. Again, these are not guaranteed but are definitely in the realm of possibility. Good luck.

 

[bellebud]

from what I've read, if you ask for a "free" upgrade, they will not give it to you. If you just ask for an upgrade, you have to pay.

They seem to give them out randomly. Good luck though.

 

[Mousemommy1]

I wouldn't be able to bring myself to ask. I wanted club level, so I booked it and paid for it. Now I can go knowing I'll get what I want.

 

[mousefan73]

What about of you have preferred room booked on the first reservatio and have a continuing reservation with a standard?
We are booked first night at POFQ with an interline rate, only garden view was available. Next day we need to officially check out/in to our package and there we have a standard room.
I was told to ask to keep the original room ( therefore asking for an upgrade for our standard package room). To be honest I could care about the view, its more we dont want to change rooms.
Should I ask or assume they will try anything regardsless if it means an upgrade to keep us in the orginal room?

 

[CanadianPaco]

I wouldn't be able to bring myself to ask. I wanted club level, so I booked it and paid for it. Now I can go knowing I'll get what I want.

I am the same way! Book what can you can afford and want.

 

[dzorn]

What about of you have preferred room booked on the first reservatio and have a continuing reservation with a standard?
We are booked first night at POFQ with an interline rate, only garden view was available. Next day we need to officially check out/in to our package and there we have a standard room.
I was told to ask to keep the original room ( therefore asking for an upgrade for our standard package room). To be honest I could care about the view, its more we dont want to change rooms.
Should I ask or assume they will try anything regardsless if it means an upgrade to keep us in the orginal room?

I would ask at check in if there is anyway to stay in the same room the whole time, but remember they could also downgrade you room the first night and achieve the same thing.

Denise in MI

 

[sydneysmom]

I am so baffled by threads like this... and honestly, I mean NOTHING against the OP, honestly. But what I don't understand is why people have to ask if they should ask for a free upgrade. Here's why this baffles me.

Millions of people go in and out of Disney resorts every year... why would someone feel that they, above everyone else, deserves a FREE upgrade? If I paid for club level, it would bug me if someone was there asking for a free upgrade to club level...just because. I certainly wouldn't go into a restaurant and say that I can only afford the hamburgers, but if you would like to give me a free upgrade to the rib eye, that would be wonderful. No, you would order what you can afford.

Don't get me wrong, a free upgrade is TOTALLY amazing... but I would never in a million years ask for one. I would pick the view I could afford and pay for it. Just like everyone else. I think if you go into it planning to ask for a free upgrade, you might be disappointed in your vacation... plan your trip exactly how you want to take it... then be grateful for anything extra that may come.

 

[Lynne M]

There are a couple of ways people get complimentary upgrades at Disney resorts.

By far, most upgrades are assigned in advance of your visit. They're done for Disney's operational reasons - they need you out of the room you would otherwise have been assigned to. It might be that they need to do maintenance, or your room category might be overbooked, or any one of a number of things. Most of the upgrades you read about on these boards fall into this category. It's not something the front desk CM did for them, it was assigned ahead of time.

Even if the CM should have the ability to give out an upgrade (which is not common), they much prefer to make it a surprise for the guest. We've had a number of current and former front desk CMs post here to say that a guest that asks for a free upgrade will never get one, even if they have an upgrade to give out.

If you really, really want to ask, I'd be sure to make it clear that you're intending to pay. Something like "How much would it cost to upgrade to X level?" If they do quote you a price that you don't like, you can always say "no, thanks."

 

[KrazeeK120]

Conversely, has anyone been offered something they DIDN'T take?

DH and I booked a room at the YC in 2009. It was our first stay at a deluxe resort and I was soooo excited. It was a 6 night/7 day trip. I think that's when they were refurbing the resort as I saw pictures of refubed rooms on the internet shortly after our vacation. Anyway, the CM at the front desk asked if we would be willing to move to the Boardwalk and they would give us 1 night for free.

DH immediately wanted to take it (as it would have saved $300), but I really, truly had my heart set on staying at the YC. I almost felt bad telling the CM that I didn't want to move, even though this was not my fault as I think I am entitled to the room I booked. We ended up in a handicap-accessible room which was great because it was right off the lobby.

I am always fascinated by the upgrades people get and the fact that I think I'm the only person who has ever turned down free money...

 

[RBrooksC]

I would also think it would depend on the initial room that was booked. It is going to be easier to give a complimentary upgrade from a standard to a preferred room as opposed to a preferred room to a Club/Concierge room.

 

[Missytara]

I can tell you when I wish I had not taken the upgrade.

I took two girls who worked for the restaurant I eat at every night back in 2009. Since I mostly go solo, I already pay double occupancy, so I just asked them to split the one extra adult fee for the 7 nights.

I always stay at POR. A few weeks before we left, the 4/3 deal came out and we could be upgraded to a studio at SSR for $200.00 less. I jumped on it, thinking we would have the same amenities that I loved at POR. Water taxi to DTD, multiple pools, etc. But we had a kitchenette and hey, it was deluxe

Wrong. To add to the mix, one of the girl's brother ended up in a baseball tournament and he was staying at POR. We ended up visiting there every night and wished we had stayed there instead.

 

[Missytara]

I am so baffled by threads like this... and honestly, I mean NOTHING against the OP, honestly. But what I don't understand is why people have to ask if they should ask for a free upgrade. Here's why this baffles me.

Millions of people go in and out of Disney resorts every year... why would someone feel that they, above everyone else, deserves a FREE upgrade? If I paid for club level, it would bug me if someone was there asking for a free upgrade to club level...just because. I certainly wouldn't go into a restaurant and say that I can only afford the hamburgers, but if you would like to give me a free upgrade to the rib eye, that would be wonderful. No, you would order what you can afford.

Don't get me wrong, a free upgrade is TOTALLY amazing... but I would never in a million years ask for one. I would pick the view I could afford and pay for it. Just like everyone else. I think if you go into it planning to ask for a free upgrade, you might be disappointed in your vacation... plan your trip exactly how you want to take it... then be grateful for anything extra that may come.

I think unfortunately, with Disney, people see an entitlement to something better than they paid for, after they read a thread that six people, out of the thousands of people who visit every year, get upgraded by something that is completely out of their control.

There was a great analogy posted by a CM a few years ago, who saw a similar post on the boards. He worked in the parks and frequently saw mishaps in the park. Here is his analogy.

I see a child eating an ice cream and he spills it all over his shirt. If you come up to me and ask me where the restrooms are, I will take you to the closest shop and get you a fresh shirt.

If you ask me for a free t-shirt, I will show you where the restrooms are located.

Perfect analogy.

 

[eliza61]

Should I ask? Or don't ask and see. We are booked in a standard view at WL, which I am completely fine with but a free upgrade would be nice. Any advice? Or experiences?

I'm sort of the "nothing ventured", "nothing gained" type so I'd ask but I've never gotten one so I always book the catergory I want.

 

[CFioren317]

I think unfortunately, with Disney, people see an entitlement to something better than they paid for, after they read a thread that six people, out of the thousands of people who visit every year, get upgraded by something that is completely out of their control.

I think this is not just something with Disney. I don't know a single person who doesn't hope for a better room ANYWHERE in the world than the one they paid for when they booked their reservation. Whether it is Vegas, Paris or Walt Disney World, if you are a living breathing human being, you are always intrigued with getting more for your money.

I see a child eating an ice cream and he spills it all over his shirt. If you come up to me and ask me where the restrooms are, I will take you to the closest shop and get you a fresh shirt.

If you ask me for a free t-shirt, I will show you where the restrooms are located.

Perfect analogy.

Again I totally disagree. When you are checking into a room and ask for a "free upgrade" you are asking to add to something you have already paid for. It isn't like you simply walk up to the counter and say "give me a free room for absolutely nothing." You are saying..."I'd like the absolute best room you can give me for the money I spent".

I agree with some others who say to ask "How much for an upgraded room?" and then if you get it for free yay and if you don't like the price then you can always say no. Where's the harm in that?

 

[ScottOKW2K]

My family and I have only been upgraded once - we were checking into Animal Kingdom Lodge for the first time. I had booked a standard view room and at check-in I asked if there was any availability in pool or Savannah view. I forget what the cost was to upgrade to pool, but I do remember he said that to upgrade to savannah was about $600 for our stay. I asked the girls what they wanted to do and they picked the savannah view. I told the cast member we would pay the charge. He showed the amount on a calculator and then said " Let me press one more key to show you your final cost". He must have hit "clear" because the number became 0.

We were quite happy with this, of course. Why I still remember this after all these years is that I was willing and had already agreed to pay the additional cost! BTW, we now own at AKV so Disney has had their generosity returned many times over.

 

[bellebud]

I think this is not just something with Disney. I don't know a single person who doesn't hope for a better room ANYWHERE in the world than the one they paid for when they booked their reservation. Whether it is Vegas, Paris or Walt Disney World, if you are a living breathing human being, you are always intrigued with getting more for your money.

I just have to point out here... I don't ever think about "how much more can I get?" I honestly don't, even when I didn't have any money (growing up, and young married life). I always expect exactly what I paid for, no more and no less. Not everyone's the same.

Not saying there's anything wrong w/ asking about an upgrade, but definitely not asking for a "free" upgrade. If they give it to you for free, great for you, but if not, oh well.